U19 cricket qualifiers set

THE next generation of talented Pacific cricketers will be on show in next month’s 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup – East Asia-Pacific Qualifier 2017 in Samoa. The capital Apia will host the region’s best up and coming cricketers when the 50-over tournament starts on Aug 8. The matches will be played in a double round robin format. The top team (on points/net run rate) will qualify for next January’s U19 World Cup in New Zealand. Fiji will be looking to book their spot in a second successive global tournament after upsetting regional favourites PNG in the 2015 regional qualifier. Prior to that, Garamuts had played in seven U19 World Cups, a record that they will be looking to add to. Hosts Samoa will be aiming to improve their overall record, having not yet won at this level while Vanuatu will be hoping to surpass their previous best of regional runners-up with the inclusion of two players.